The smallest species of Cochlostoma (Lovcenia), differing from both C. (L.) dalmatinum and C. (L.) lanatum sp. nov. by the more regular, narrowly spaced, rather prominent ribs. The apertural lip is narrower and less conspicuously curved at the columellar side than in the consubgeneric species. The conchologically most similar species, C. (L.) tropojanum sp. nov., differs by its relatively larger protoconch and, in the female genitalia, by the less conspicuously convoluted visceral oviduct.

SHELL. Small, with 7½–8½ whorls (H/W ratio 2.42–2.57). The initial 2.4 whorls form the protoconch, which is smooth for the first 0.5–0.7 whorl and then finely costulate with closely spaced riblets. The protoconch is relatively large (Dp/D4th =0.73). The shell is more or less dark horn-brown, without spots. The teleoconch whorls are costate, with whitish, slightly irregular in height, rounded ribs. The ribs are quite regularly and narrowly spaced, with 9–10 ribs per mm both on the 4th whorl and on most of the body whorl. The ribbing is less prominent and denser on the last part of the body whorl approaching the aperture. The peristome is moderately developed; the lip broadens at the columellar side before curving increasingly back and covering the umbilicus. While approaching the aperture, the body whorl enlarges, while forming a moderately developed external lobe.

FEMALE GENITALIA. Bursa copulatrix very large, with a more or less posterior connection of the pedunculus. The short seminal receptacle is confined to the ventral side of the body. The tortuous loops of the visceral oviduct are situated over the apex of the seminal receptacle. The junction of the uterine gland and the copulatory duct is moderately far from the connection between the distal oviduct and the pedunculus.

This species is known from two mountain ranges that are nearly 200 km apart, i.e., the Galičica Mts in southwestern Macedonia, Ohrid District, and the Prokletije (= Bjeshkët e Nemuna) Mts in northern Albania. It occurs at altitudes above 1700 m. The former area is the southernmost occurrence known for the subgenus Lovcenia.

Habitat preference

Like most species of Cochlostoma, this is an obligate rock-dwelling snail that can be found on limestone cliffs or under boulders on rocky alpine grasslands.

Remarks

The molecular analyses confirm that the morphologically similar but geographically distant populations of the Bugarska Peak and the Pejë Pass are indeed conspecific.